This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters1 and other major groups of eligible voters in Maryland.2 All demographic data are based on Pew Research Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community Survey.3

Hispanics in Maryland’s Eligible Voter Population

Population and Electorate in the United States and Maryland, 2012
  • The Hispanic population in Maryland is the 18th largest in the nation. About 510,000 Hispanics reside in Maryland, 1% of all Hispanics in the United States.
  • Maryland’s population is 9% Hispanic, the 25th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
  • There are 165,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Maryland—the 21st largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.4 million.
  • Some 4% of Maryland eligible voters are Hispanic, the 28th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
  • Some 32% of Hispanics in Maryland are eligible to vote, ranking Maryland 45th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 79% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Maryland and the United States, 2012
  • Age. About three-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Maryland (32%) are ages 18 to 29, about the same as the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) in that age range. By contrast, only 21% of all Maryland eligible voters and 22% of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
  • Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Maryland, 39% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This is higher than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. Just 9% of all eligible voters in Maryland and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall are naturalized U.S. citizens.
  • Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Maryland have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Some two-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Maryland are of Salvadoran origin, 19% are of Mexican origin, 16% are of Puerto Rican origin, and 44% claim other Hispanic origin. Among all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, only 3% are Salvadoran, 59% are Mexican, 14% are Puerto Rican and 25% are of some other Hispanic origin.
  • Educational Attainment. Some 15% of Latino eligible voters in Maryland have not completed high school, more than the 9% of all Maryland eligible voters who have not completed high school and less than the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
  • Homeownership. About two-thirds of Hispanic eligible voters in Maryland (66%) live in owner-occupied homes, compared with 56% of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Greater shares of all eligible voters in Maryland (71%) and roughly equal shares of eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Maryland, by Race and Ethnicity

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Maryland and the United States, by Race and Ethnicity, 2012
  • Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Maryland by about 15 to 1, and black eligible voters outnumber Hispanics by 7 to 1. There are similar numbers of Hispanic (165,000) and Asian (174,000) eligible voters in Maryland.
  • Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white, black and Asian eligible voters in Maryland. Some 32% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 19% of white eligible voters, 23% of black eligible voters and 19% of Asian eligible voters.
  • Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of high school education than do white, black and Asian eligible voters in Maryland. Some 15% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 7% of white eligible voters, 12% of black eligible voters and 8% of Asian eligible voters. A higher share of Hispanic eligible voters (30%) has a bachelor’s degree or more compared with black eligible voters (23%), but white (39%) and Asian (57%) eligible voters are more likely to hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
  • Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (66%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (56%) in Maryland, but are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (78%) or Asian (82%) eligible voters.